Description and history

The flag of this design was adopted on 30 march 1920 and used until 1939.
On 9 May 1948 the unitary Czechoslovakian Democratic People's Republic
was proclaimed, on 11 July the Czech-Slovak Socialist Republic,
becoming a federal republic on 1 January 1969. It finally became the Czech
and Slovak Federative Republic in 1990, and was dissolved 1 January
1993 when it was split into the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic.
At all these times it used the same flag, and the Czech Republic adopted
it as their flag.
Mark Sensen 2 July 1996

The Constitution of 1990 set up the Czech Lands and Slovakia
as two equal nations. Each was to have its own arms, seal, flag and anthem,
and these were laid down in laws of 1990. The flag of the state was unchanged.
As indicated before, the agreement was made by two countries upon separation
not to adopt the previous state's emblems, but CZ adopted a flag with the
blue triangle as the flag of CZ republic on 17 December 1992.Željko Heimer, 1 Nov 1996

I've recently read Mark Sensen's review of the Czechoslovakian history
in the FOTW. It is uncertain in some respects. The correct history is as
follows:

Another topic: so-called "Czechoslovakia 1920
flag" (with the blue triangle reaching one third of the flag) was only
*proposal*, not accepted by the Parliament and never used. The white-red
bicolor was substituted immediately by the present Czech WRB flag with
the triangle reaching the center of the flag.
Jan Zrzavý, 27 May 2000

The blue "triangle" of the flag - is not a triangle, it is KLIN
- a "wedge". This led to prolonged discussion post 1918 as to where on
the flag the "wedge" should be placed. For instance placing the "wedge"
on an opposite site to the mast (present day position) was considered but
turned down as it would have "suggested that Slovakia was splintering the
new Czechoslovakia" - First republic.
see this
official government site.
Eugene Svoboda, 2 Jan 2002

The Historical State Symbols of Czechoslovakia

<According to Czech law texts. (Sb. is for Sbírka" - the official
Bulletin for Czechoslovak Acts. It means Collection. From 1999 "Sbírka
zákonu" - the Collection of Acts.)> (comments by Aleš Křižan are
between <...> - editor)

"Act. No.102/1990 Sb. Constitutional Act of 20. April, 1990 on
State symbols of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic

The Federal Assembly of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic resolved
on this law:

Art.I.
The state symbols of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic are the
State Arms, the State flag, the Standard of the President of Republic,
the State Seal and the State Anthem."

"Art. II.
(1) The State Arms of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic are made
up of a quartered shield, in its first and fourth field is a silver double
queued roaring jumping lion looking to the right, with golden claws, golden
tongue put out and golden heraldic crown. In the second and third field
is a silver double cross, erected on a middle increased top of a blue triple-hill.
The quartering of the shield is marked by a silver line.
(2) ..."

<This is not a blazon but a normal description. Note: in Czech there
is no proper term for the position of an animal, blazoned as "Lion rampant".
We either say only "Lion" with no further notices about its position,
or we translate it as "Lion jumping." or "Lion in a jump".>

"Art.IV.
(1) The Flag and (!) the Standard of the President of the Czech and
Slovak Federal Republic is white with a bordure, compound from flames
alternate of white, red and blue. In the center of a white field
are placed the State arms of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republik
made of fabric. Below is a red scroll with silver legend "VERITAS VINCIT".
On both ends of scroll are golden linden branches with two leaves each.
The Standard of the President is square shaped.
(2) ..."
<To my surprise the law spoke on Flag AND Standard, although there
was no other President's Flag seen than the square one.>

"Cl.V.
(1) The State Seal of the Czech and Slovak Republic is made up of the
State Arms with linden branches on (both) sides, around it is a circular
inscription of the state name in Czech and in Slovak.
(2) ...."

<The Czech and Slovak versions of inscription are very similar: "Ceská
a Slovenská Federativní Republika" in Czech, "Ceská a Slovenská
Federatívna Republika". The similarity of both languages was the
reason for use of Latin in the Standard. Slovaks in Parliament wanted first
bilingual Croll (PRAVDA VÍTEZÍ / PRAVDA VITAZÍ). But some Members
of Parliament thought that that would be ridiculous.>

<The description of Socialist Arms (Act. No. 163/1963 Sb.., paragraph
1) was much worse:>
„ § 1
The State Coat of Arms
(1) The State Coat of Arms of Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is ...
a red shield shaped as a Hussite "Pavese" (infantry Shield) with
star of five points in upper part, on which ( i.e. on that shield) is a
white double-tailed lion, bearing on its breast red escutcheon with blue
silhouette of Mount Kriván and a bonfire of gold. The drawing of the arms
is golden
(Art. 110. Section 1 of Constitution)."

<Alternatively: in a Hussite shield, Gules a lion queue fourche
argent beneath a star of five points voided or, on its breast an escutcheon
bearing gules, on a mountain azure a flame or. The star represented Communism
, the escutcheon was meant to replace the arms of Slovakia. Notes: crown
of the Bohemian lion was eliminated and these Czech and Slovak symbols
were never used separately (in Czech Socialist Rep. and in Slovak SR between
1969 - 90).

In the time of November Revolution the fact, that this symbol
was disliked, caused a joke I've seen on hand made posters among others
in the streets of our towns. It was the picture of a crying lion with star
in its paw. He (or it?) was saying: „Give me back the crown. On this star
is a deposit." Our groceries still has the duty to buy back most
bottles, and the deposit for one beer bottle was exactly 1 Crown. In the
past one could go to the prison for such jokes. The caricaturist
Miroslav Lidák ("Hadák") drew in early sixties (or in early seventies,
I'm not sure) a caricature of the presidents Standard. There was double-tailed
Good Soldier Schweik with lion-paws on it, and the motto was "To chce
klid" (Take it easy). He was charged with offence of state.>

"§ 3
The Standard of the President of the Republic
"(1) The Standard of the President of the Republic is white, with bordure
of white, blue and red small fields: In its centre are the State Arms,
by sides with linden branches (golden). Under the State Arms is a motto "PRAVDA VITEZI" on a red scroll. The letters of the motto are of
gold"

<In fact: the angles were red and the other blue and red small fields
were placed on white background.>

The symbols of Czechoslovakia until 1960, when the Socialism was proclaimed
(Act. No. 252/1920 Coll. Of Acts and Statutes): The Small, Middle and Great
State Arms, The State Flag, The Presidents Standard and The Great and Small
State Seal.

The Small State Arms was (§ 4): Gules Lion rampant Argent towards to
the dexter side, with mouth wide open and with Tongue put out, also armed
and "diademed" Or, bearing on its Breast an Eschutcheon Gules, charged
with three Hills Azure. On the middle higher Hill is erected a Double-Cross
Argent .

<Notes: The word "Diademe" replaced the word "Crown", because this
expression was interpreted to be "too monarchistic". The placement of the
Slovak symbol on Lions breast is now considered (so said for example Heraldist
Milan Buben) as a mistake. "One could think," he says, "that the Kingdom
Of Bohemia is ruled by a Slovak dynasty!"

The Standard has flamy triangles on its bordure again. This is surprisingly
an allusion of old Imperial standards. They also had this kind of decoration.
The colours white, red and blue were (and still are) the only right
order of our State Colours - the Tricolour. These are one of official State
symbols. This is the main reason of use this Tricolour as a Protectorate
Flag, designed by Dr. K. Schwarzenberg.>

The medium arms were: Quarterly Slovakia, Ruthenia (per pale,
Azure three Bars Or, and Argent a bear rampant gules), Moravia (Azure,
an Eagle displayed chequy gules and argent, crowned (beaked and membered
or), escutcheon and Silesia (Or, an Eagle displayed Sable crowned of the
first (armed and membered gules), on its breast a Crescent trefoiled with
a crosslet argent the middle (i.e. surmounted by a Crosslet. Alternatively, a
crosslet on a Kleestengel argent). ), en surtout Bohemia. For Ruthenia
(annexed by the Soviet Union in forties, finally ceded to USSR in 1945
and now a part of Ukraine), a coat of arms was designed, evoking Ukraine
and Russia. These arms are still used as ethnic symbols by the Rusyns (Ruthenes)
and in the year 1990 it was confirmed as an Symbol of Zakarpatska
Oblast of Ukraine.

The grand arms were: Quarterly of seven, in rows of 2, 2 and 3: Slovakia,
Ruthenia, Moravia, Silesia, Tesin, Opava and Ratibor, en surtout Bohemia.
The arms of Tesin were Azure an Eagle Or, Opava was per pale Gules and
Argent and Ratibor was per Azure an Eagle Or, and per pale Argent and Gules.
The supporters were two Bohemian Lions Or standing on Linden Branches Or.
The motto, taken from the 15th c. Hussite king George of Podebrady, was
"Pravda vitezi" (Truth prevails) - Azure on a Scroll Or.

<The so called "Ratibor" is known as Hlučínsko (Hlucin Country, Hultschiner
Land). It was till the year 1920 (Treaty of Versailles) a part of Prussia,
i.e. Germany, not of Austrian Silesia) Hlučínsko is the southern part of
Duchy of Ratibor, Upper Silesia. Following this logic could be there also
the arms of Lower Austria, because in the same time the territory of Valtice
(Feldsberg - 5 communities) was made a part of South Moravia (Now Brnenský
kraj, Okres Breclav). (other source : www.heraldica.org)>
Aleš Křižan, 4 Dec 2000